Dd mouth breathing- can't breath through her nose

[whojamaflip]

Dd has always been a noisy mouth breather and whether it's just I'm noticing it more of it's getting worse I don't know but it's all I can hear when she's around!

She's always been a snorer even from a tiny baby and it's a standing joke both with us and her friends! Doesn't bother her and she says it's just her!

Thing is she says she can't breath through her nose and it feels like she's not getting enough air in if she tries. She hasn't a cold or a runny nose and as far as I know it not an allergy.

I've done the dr google thing and I'm wondering if it warrants a visit to the doctor or is it likely to be a habit.

No other problems - she's extremely fit (does high level sport) and it doesn't seem to affect her but dear god the noisy breathing is something else!

Any ideas - I dont want to make her self conscious about it but we have had some remarks from family members and I'm guessing it's only a matter of time til friends say something

Breathing through her mouth means your child is not getting sufficient air and may have a build up of mucous in the sinuses or allergic rhinitis. Breathing through the mouth causes mucous build up in the sinuses. Also mouth breathers take in less oxygen.
You should have taken her to the doctor before now.
Breathing through the mouth can lead to long term problems. Please take your child to the doctor.

She must have her adenoids/tonsils looked at by the GP. Book her in. She sounds like her adenoids might be the problem here.

She needs to go to the doctor and probably be referred to an specialist in ear nose and throat. Poor mite.

I can't breathe through my nose either. I hadn't really thought it was much of a problem as I have my mouth until I read these responses.

Ok doctors appointment booked for start of January (earliest non- emergency appointment available)

Have I really dropped the ball here? She's happy and healthy (rarely is ill not like my other dc) and it's only the noise that made me question it?

She's 12 - will they take her adenoids out if that's what the problem is? She's never had an ear infection or glue ear and rarely has a sore throat. As I say she's the dc I considered to be the most healthy!

While waiting for your appointment, buy this book and see if you can use the exercises to encourage nose breathing. I have used it with my much younger children to help it become habitual and I know of a clinical situation where a practitioner has great success getting teenage mouth breathers to change the habit. If there is something more significant going on, your appointment in January will still be there if this doesn't help.

www.amazon.co.uk/Close-Your-Mouth-Buteyko-Breathing/dp/0954599616/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=close+your+mouth&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1511867174&sr=8-2

What Forgiveness said.
Read the book, follow the instructions. I had breathing physiotherapy which also helped.
I have always been a noisy mouth breather, and whilst that can be due to adenoids/tonsils (worth cbeing checked), it can also be down to habit. Use the nose or lose it - if you don't breathe through it, it doesn't work properly, so you need retraining how to breathe. Sounds silly I know.
I had a childhood of investigations as to why I breathed like Darth Vader, it wasn't until my late thirties when I was told it was habit. I am no longer a mouth breather (I am sometimes, it's a difficult habit to break!)

I was a mouth breather. I got quite concerned about it as an adolescent because I wouldn't be able to kiss (I'd feel like I was suffocating). I couldn't actually breathe through my nose properly. My parents had taken me to drs, to no good effect - they thought I might have adenoids but I didn't.

Anyway, what helped was that one time (do not try this at home) I was gingerly putting a needle up my nose, I suppose to see if there was route through for the air to go. It made me sneeze. Once I could make myself sneeze, I sneezed out loads of mucous that was just living up in my sinuses or something. Once it was out I could breathe through my nose. It's true that you need to breathe through your nose to stop a build up of mucous. I wish I'd have found out about it sooner. Nowadays I would still do the same thing, but maybe use a matchstick to tickle inside my nostril, not a needle.

She may need her adenoids out, has she got large tonsils? You can’t see your adenoids, the only way to know if they are large is to feel under anaesthetic during a tonsillectomy for example.

But yes I would definitely see the GP and take any video evidence that may help.

So I've had a bit of a chat with her tonight and it's really weird

She can breath out through her nose although it's noisy but if she tries to breath in its like a door slams and you can actually hear the air stop!!! Most strange

Have ordered the suggested book so will try that as well.

It does kind of sound like there is something physical (deviated septum maybe but not attempting to diagnose based on your description. I usually err on the side of attempting alternative solutions before surgical interventions so I would see an osteopath to see if there is something they can do. They have very good knowledge of anatomy and may actually be able to tell you what the problem is..

Same changed. My dad too. Narrow nasal passages, I was told.

Thought I'd come back an update.

Dd saw the doctor about 6 weeks ago and was prescribed steroid drops to be used morning and night. GP agreed her nasal passages were abnormally narrow and it wasn't a breathing habit. She's been using the drops and things have improved in that she can get air through her nose but still feels like she's not getting enough air in so is still predominantly mouth breathing.

Saw GP this morning and she's on the drops until August to see if she improves further then if there's still a problem it's a referral to ENT.

Thanks to all who gave me advise - we seem to be well on the way to sorting it out.